Conflict escalates between NYC renters and property owners concerning short-term rental regulations
In the heart of New York City, the debate over short-term rental laws, particularly Local Law 18, has become a contentious issue. The law, enacted in September 2023, severely restricts short-term rentals, causing a stir among Airbnb hosts who argue it has devastated their incomes and made renting out homes on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO nearly impossible.
In response to the outcry, Brooklyn Councilmember Farah Louis introduced Intro 1107 in late 2024. This bill, backed by Airbnb and its affiliated organization Affordable New York, aims to ease some stringent provisions of Local Law 18. If passed, it would allow short-term rentals in one- to two-family homes without the host being physically present, increase occupancy limits, and remove privacy-invading rules like the "Unlocked Doors Provision."
However, the proposed bill has faced opposition from the coalition Tenants Not Tourists, composed of housing and civil rights advocates. This group argues that loosening short-term rental restrictions would worsen the housing shortage in New York City by removing homes from the long-term rental market.
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, on the other hand, supports short-term rental loosening, releasing polls showing public support for revisiting the law. However, this contrasts with other polls cited by Tenants Not Tourists showing stronger opposition.
Enforcement of Local Law 18 has been vigorous, with increased inspections and high fines for violations, making compliance challenging for hosts. This strict enforcement has been welcomed by affordable housing advocates and the hotel industry but has intensified conflict between tenant groups and hosts.
The situation is a tense standoff between economic interests of hosts/businesses and tenants' rights/housing availability concerns. The short-term rental battle will likely be an ongoing part of the 2025 citywide elections, with Mayor Eric Adams, running for reelection as an independent, championing Local Law 18, and other candidates voicing their opinions.
Meanwhile, the Tenants Not Tourists coalition, which opposes short-term rentals, has accused the polls supporting Intro 1107 of being "wildly inconsistent" with previous findings and not reflecting New Yorkers' views. The coalition instead points to a June poll that found 56% of New Yorkers opposed legislation that would loosen restrictions on short-term rentals.
Airbnb's political action committee, Affordable New York, has spent nearly $3.7 million on 2025 campaigns attempting to gather support for Intro 1107. The Chamber sent a poll claiming a majority of New Yorkers support revisiting or changing the law banning short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs. However, the poll asked 503 adults across the five boroughs but did not distinguish between homeowners and renters, leading to criticism from Tenants Not Tourists.
The controversy remains active, with both sides presenting their arguments and data. The future of short-term rentals in New York City hangs in the balance as the debate continues.
- The ongoing debate over short-term rental laws, specifically Local Law 18, has become a significant part of the political landscape in New York City, as evidenced by arguments presented by groups such as the Brooklyn Councilmember Farah Louis introducers Intro 1107 to ease some provisions, Tenants Not Tourists coalition who oppose loosening short-term rental restrictions, and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce supporting short-term rental loosening.
- The future of short-term rental policies in New York City continues to be a contentious topic within the realm of policy-and-legislation, with the controversy surrounding Local Law 18 and proposals like Intro 1107 being a major focus of the general-news and the 2025 citywide elections.
